Is There Any Hope?

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope”
(Romans 15:4)

When the Jewish Rabbi Saul, later being named Paul, wrote these words (along with half of the New Testament), he had “the Scriptures” in mind. There is no doubt that he was referring to the earlier writings of the older Testament – – the Hebrew Scriptures. So, in other words, by reading the words of Scripture (earlier portions, as well as later), you will find hope – – through examples, principles and personal application.

So, having been a teacher over the years, I am accustomed to give my students homework assignments. Here is yours: Read Psalm 37 (see below) and write down promises God made through His servant David. Then, see if these promises are conditional [that means that you must do something to realize the promises].  Let me get you started – – Psalm 37:4 promises to give you the desires of your heart. But there is a condition involved – – you must delight yourself in the LORD first! Ask yourself, “Am I really delighting myself in God and His Word, the Bible? How so?” Here is one of the many promises made by God in the Bible, but are you meeting the condition(s)?

But before we proceed, we need to understand how hope is defined. In modern usage, we think of hope as something that is to be desired. For example, “I hope it will/will not snow today.” You get the picture. But in the Bible, hope is defined as expectancy based on a promise. In other words, someone makes a promise to you, and you count on it or look forward to it with eager anticipation, especially if God is the One who makes it!

In today’s world, you will need lots of hope!! But you must persevere in and take comfort from the Scriptures alone. Now you know what to do . . .!

(Psalm 37)

A Psalm of David. ¹ Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. ² For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. ³ Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. ⁴ Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. ⁵ Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. ⁶ He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. ⁷ Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. ⁸ Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. ⁹ For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth. ¹⁰ For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. ¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. ¹² The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth. ¹³ The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming. ¹⁴ The wicked have drawn the sword And have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct. ¹⁵ Their sword shall enter their own heart, And their bows shall be broken. ¹⁶ A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked. ¹⁷ For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, But the Lord upholds the righteous. ¹⁸ The Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. ¹⁹ They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. ²⁰ But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the Lord, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. ²¹ The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives. ²² For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off. ²³ The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. ²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. ²⁵ I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. ²⁶ He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed. ²⁷ Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore. ²⁸ For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. ²⁹ The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever. ³⁰ The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice. ³¹ The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide. ³² The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him. ³³ The Lord will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged. ³⁴ Wait on the Lord, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. ³⁵ I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree. ³⁶ Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found. ³⁷ Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace. ³⁸ But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off. ³⁹ But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. ⁴⁰ And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.